Bible clubs in Fairfield County schools face complaint

Sunday

Student Bible clubs in at least two Fairfield County schools have been temporarily suspended after administrators received a complaint that area religious leaders were heading the groups.

Student Bible clubs in at least two Fairfield County schools have been temporarily suspended after administrators received a complaint that area religious leaders were heading the groups.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a non-profit group that serves as a watchdog over issues involving separation of church and state, sent letters to four school districts regarding Bible studies held in eight high schools, junior high schools and middle schools before class or on lunch breaks.

Such groups violate protections of separation of church and state if they are led or regularly attended by local pastors, said Ryan Jayne, a legal fellow at the Wisconsin-based foundation.

"Public school districts must ensure that student religious groups are genuinely student-initiated and student-run, and that outside adults do not regularly participate in the clubs," said a letter from the group to Lancaster City Schools Superintendent Steve Wigton.

Similar letters were sent to the Bloom-Carroll Local School District, Fairfield Union Local Schools and Liberty Union-Thurston Local Schools.

Jayne said a community member, whom he declined to identify, saw the Bible clubs posted on the website of Fairfield Memorial Church in Lancaster. A screenshot of the now-removed web page said the groups are "led by volunteers or community youth pastors."

The Rev. Jonathan Morgan, Faith Memorial pastor, said the complaint is "much ado about nothing" and that the Web page, along with some local church newsletters, was improperly worded.

Pastors do not lead the groups but have been invited to attend at times by students, he said, and there have been no concerns from administrators, principals, parents or students.

Attorney Sue Yount of Bricker & Eckler in Columbus has responded to the foundation on behalf of all four school districts.

"The districts are meeting with building principals and reviewing the parameters of the federal Equal Access Act," Yount wrote in an email. "This Act provides for the right of students to hold religious activities on school grounds during non-instructional time, so long as the activities are student-initiated and student-led, with non-school persons not directing, controlling, or regularly attending."

Jayne said that he awaits a written response from Yount but is otherwise confident that she will help ensure that the clubs are compliant in the future.

In the Liberty Union-Thurston district, Bible clubs at the high school and middle school have been put on hold as the law firm reviews the matter, said Superintendent Todd Osborn.

"We need to make sure that we're doing things correctly," he said.

He said the groups were generated and run by students and that pastors visit from time to time when invited by students. The clubs are not partnered with any local churches.

He said students are disappointed that the clubs have been suspended, but understand that there are rules to follow. He is hopeful the groups will return after the law firm review.

Lancaster Superintendent Steve Wigton said the Bible clubs in his district fall within the parameters of the law and school district guidelines. After receiving the letter, he said, the district held a meeting with principals and adults who visit the clubs.

Superintendents in the Bloom-Carroll and Fairfield Union districts did not return calls seeking comment.

Morgan said the clubs have been "incredibly beneficial and longstanding" programs in the schools and that discrediting them would affect the well-being of students.

"As a pastor, when we are doing our best at the request of others to be of assistance in the lives of others, it's frankly repulsive where we are today — that an individual can bring such undue and unfounded criticism," he said.

jviviano@dispatch.com

@JoAnneViviano

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